State ex rel Thomas v. Blakey

OPINION

SNOW, Judge.

¶ 1 The State petitions for special action review of the superior court’s determination that real party in interest, defendant Juan Lugo, may not be tried in absentia pursuant to Arizona Rule of Criminal Procedure 9.1. For the following reasons, we accept jurisdiction and grant relief.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2 On August 25, 2004, Phoenix police received information from an anonymous source that 500 pounds of marijuana was located in an apartment at 1329 E. Cinnabar. The officers who responded to the call could smell marijuana through the door of the apartment. After…